Cloth-printing machine



F. R. EVANS.

CLOTH PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12.1920.

1,406,948.. Patnted Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H'ED FRANK R. EVANS, 0F ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

CLOTH-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed July 12, 1920. Serial No. 395fi33. K

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. EVAN a citizen of the UnitedStates residingat Zanesville, in the county of lvluskingum, and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth-Printinglilachines, of which the following is a specification. I v

This invention relates to cloth printing machines and whilethe machinedesigned primarily for use in printing lines, figures, or designs ofvarious kinds upon a strip of cloth which is runthrough the machine, theprinciples of the invention may find embodiment in cloth printingmachines for various other purposes.

In Letters Patent granted to me Februar 25, 1919, No. 1,295,720 forgauntlet cuff and method of producing the same, there is disclosed theidea of printing upon a cuff blank one or more longitudinally extendinglines inimitation of stitching or, if desired, various other designs. inthe manufacture of these gauntlet cuff blanlis the blanhs are cut from along strip of doth material ordinarily stored in roll form and it istherefore the primary object of the present invention to provideaprinting machine constructed for continuous operation to print thedesired design upon the face of a strip of such cloth material as thestrip is unwound. from the roll in the automatic operation of themachine, the printing operation being in this manner expeditiouslyperformed and in an inexpensive manner.

I have observed that in drawing a. strip or sheet of cloth from a rollit is necessary,

if the same is to be drawn evenly and not subject to distortion, tosomewhat tension the strip or sheet and therefore it is another objectof the inventionto provide'in a cloth printing machine, means foreffectually tensioning a strip of cloth as it is passed through themachine so that there will be no likelihood ofdistortion of the-saidstrip.

In the machine embodying the present invention the cloth passes from thestorage roll over the tensioning means which is provided and past theimpression mechanism and is then wound into. another roll, and it is afurther object of the invention to provide a novel and particularlycompact arrangement of the various component parts of the machine andone which will possess peculiar advantages and which ,will be presentlymore specifically set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide an mproved impressionmechanism in a machine of this class In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation ofthe machine embodying the presentinvention; i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, parts being broken away andthe cloth strip being shown in] section where it passes over thetensioning means;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the impression mechanismremoved from the machine.

. Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification of thismechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the gear system employed inconnection with the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4. i

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates in general the frame of theprinting machine embodying the present invention and this frame may beofany desired construction and as it in itself forms nopart of .thepresent invention it neednot he specifically described. Mounted upon andprojecting from one fareof the upper portion of the frame 1 is a stubshaft or spindle 2 upon which may be placed the roll of cloth 3 which isto be printed upon in the operation of the machine, the .i'oll of clothbeing merely slipped onto the said shaft or spindle and being adapted tobe unwound by heingpulled'from the roll. 2

Y From the roll 8, the strip of cloth as it is unwound is passed over atensioning means which in this embodiment of the invention is in thenature of a friction drum indicated ingeneral by the numeral a. The saiddrum comprises a body owhich is of cylindrical form being interrupted,however, at the forward portion of its lower side as indicated by thenumeral 6 so as to leave an open ing for zt'PUlPOSO which will presentlybe described This body 5 is provided with side flanges 7 which projectbeyond the outer surface of the cylindrical body and which serve asguides toprcvent the strip of cloth slipping off, from the bodyor'becoming laterally displaced. This friction tensioning drum ismounted upon the same side of the frame as the shaft spindle 2 and thecenter or". the circle described by the drum is preferably locatedsubstantially vertically above the shaft or spindle 2. The outercylindrical face of thehody of the drum is preferably smooth so that theclothfwill not be interfered with in passing over the drum but it willbe evident that the frictionalconact of the cloth with the said face ofthe body of the drum will offer sufficient resis tance to the travel ofthe cloth to suitably tension the same so that it will not becomedistorted.

The numeral 8 indicates a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a suitablebearing 9 upon that side. of the frame opposite the side upon which thedrum and spindle 2 are mounted, one portion of the shaft 8, however,extending axially into the drum 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings and being slotted as at 10, longitudinally, so as to adapt theforemost end of the strip of cloth to be connected therewith. Of course,when the strip of cloth is so con nected and the shaftis rotated, thestrip will be wound upon the shaft. that the shaft 8 may be rotated forthe purpose stated, a pulley 11 is fixed upon the shaft beside thebearing 9 and a belt 12 is trained about this pulley and a similarpulley 13 mounted upon an idle shaft 1d upon the frame 1. A belt 15 islikewise trained about the pulley 13 and serves to transmit power to thesaid pulley, and an idle pulley 16 is likewise mounted upon the shaft sothat the power belt 15 may be shifted to position thereon when it-isdesired to stop the operation of the machine.

The strip of cloth passes from the roll over the friction tensioningdrum from the rear to the forward side thereof at which latter side ofthe drum it is passed about an idle roll 17 which serves likewise as theplaten of the impression mechanism of the machine. After passing overthe platen 17, the strip winds onto the shaft 8, the said shaft beingcont-inuOusly rotated.

The impression mechanism shown in Figs. 1. to 8 inclusive is designedprimarily for printing longitudinal lines, in imitation of stitching,upon the strip of cloth as it passes over the platen 17 and thismechanism will now be described. The numeral 18 in dicates the ink fontor basin which is mountv ed in any suitable manner upon the frame of themachine and the numeral 19 indicates in general a frame which is mountedto rock upon a shaft 20 disposed within the upper portion of the font,bearing screws 21 being threaded through. the opposite side or end wallsof the font and journaling the ends of the said shaft. The frame 19comprises members 22 each of which includes a bearing sleeve 23 fittingthe said shaft 20 and provided with a rearwardly extending substantiallyhorizontally disposed finger 24. These fingers are provided with upstanding bosses 25 terminating in studs 26 which studs fit throughopenings 27 formed in the ends of a spindle 28 upon which is mounted, asleeve shaft 29' carrying impres- In. order.

sion wheels or disks 30 the peripheries of which continuously contactthe cloth as the cloth is drawn over the platen 17. The side members 22of the frame 19 further include arms 31 which are extended forwardly andthence downwardly and which at their lower ends and at theirrear sidesare provided with studs 32 engaged by the forward ends of springs 33.The rear ends of these springs fit over the ends of bolts 34 which arefitted through a flange 35 projecting downwardly from the bottom of thefont 18, the said last mentioned ends of the springs bearing againstnuts 36 which are adjustably .threaded upon the bolts and which whenadjusted serve to vary the tension of the said springs 33. The saidsprings 33 urge the lower ends of the arms 31 in a forward directionandconsequently normally hold the frame 19 so rocked as to cause theperipheries of the impression wheels 30 to hear more or less firmlyagainst the cloth passing over the platen 17. In the present instancetwo'of theimpression wheels 30 are employed so that two parallel lineswill be printed upon thestrip of cloth as it passes through the machinebut if desired only one such wheel may be employed orl may make, use ofmore than two of such wheels. Furthermore, the peripheries of the wheelmay be designed so asto make an impression of a corresponding designupon the cloth. In order that ink may be supplied from the font 18 tothe peripheries of the impression wheels 30, inking wheels 37 aremounted upon the shaft 20 and preferably comprise spaced metallic heads38 and an intermediate filling 39 of felt, rubber, or in fact anymaterial suitable for the purpose and which possesses the desired degreeof yieldability. The impression wheels 3t) and inking wheels 37 are inperipheral. contact and, of course, as the strip of cloth travels pastand in contact with the peripheries of the impression wheels 30, thesewheels will be rotated and, being in peripheral contact wit-h the inkingwheels, the latter wheels will likewise be rotated so. as to take up theink and continually furnish a. supply thereof to the peripheries oftheinking rolls.

Figs. and 5 of the drawings illustrate a slightly modified form ofimpression mechanism, this form being designed especially for use whereit is desired to print upon the strip at suitable intervals, somespecial design or figure as for example a star as shown in the saidFig.4. In these figures the numeral 10 indicates the platen whichcorresponds to the platen 17, 41. an impression roll having upon itsperipheral surface raised design or figure 42 which constitutes alonethe printing surface of the said roll. This roll 41 takes the place ofthe impression wheels 30 previously described,

and the surface 42 is supplied with ink by an inking roll 43 mounted ina frame 44 which is identical with the frame 19 previously described.Ink is in turn supplied to the roll 43 by a take-up roll 45 whichoperates in an ink font 46 which corresponds to the font 18. It will beunderstood that the impression roll 41 and distributing roll 43 are notin peripheral contact except for the sur face 42. Fig. 5 of the drawingsillustrates clearly the gearing for driving the several rolls and inthis figure the numeral 47 inclicates a pinion which is fixed upon theshaft for the platen 40 and which meshes with a pinion 48 fixed upon theshaft for the impression roll 41. The pinion 48 meshes with a pinion 49fixed upon the shaft for the distributing r011 43, and the said pinion49 in turn meshes with a pinion 50 fixed upon a shaft for the ink supplyroll 45. Of course, the passage of the strip of cloth over the platen 40will serve to rotate this platen and, by the system of gearingdescribed, rotary motion, will be imparted to the several rolls 41, 43and 45.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be evident thatthe cloth as it is unwound from the storage roll 3, is continuouslycarried through the machine, the impression mechanism likewise operatingcontinuously and the said cloth being so tensioned as to effectuallyprevent its distortion. It will also be evident that by leading thestrip of cloth from the platen 17 through the opening 6 and winding itupon the shaft 8 which shaft is located within the bounds of thefriction tensioning drum 4, an exceptionally compact arrangement isprovided for taking up the cloth and storing the same as it is actedupon by the impression mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cloth printing machine, a friction tensioning drum, clothwinding means operating within the circumference of the drum to draw thecloth to be printed over the said drum, a platen located at a point inthe circumference of the drum, impression means, and means urging theimpression means in the direction of and for cooperation with the saidplaten.

2. In a cloth printing machine, a friction drum, means within thecircumference of the drum for winding a strip of clot-h to be drawnabout the surface of the drum and printed, a revolvable platen roll overwhich the cloth is to be drawn prior to passage to the winding means,impression means, and means urging the impression means in the directionof and for cooperation with the said platen roll.

3. In a cloth printing machine, a friction tensioning drum, clothwinding means operating within the circumference of the drum andoperable to draw the cloth to be printed over the said drum, andimpression means.

4. In a cloth printing machine, a friction tensioning drum, clothwinding means operating within the circumference of the drum andoperable to draw the cloth to be printed over the said drum, andimpression means, the said drum being open at point in its circumferenceand the said impression means being located at one side of the openportion of the drum and including a platen over which the cloth is drawnprior to passing to the winding means.

5. In a cloth printing machine, a friction tensioning drum, clothwinding means operating within the circumference of the drum andoperable to draw the cloth to be printed over the said drum, andimpression means, the said drum being open at a point in itscircumference and the said impression means being located at one side ofthe open portion of the drum and including a platen over which the clothis drawn prior to passing to the winding means, the said impressionmechanism also including a rotary impression element arranged inoperative relation to the platen.

6. In a cloth printing machine, a roll supporting means, a frictiontensioniug drum located above the said means and having an opening inits periphery adjacent its under side, a cloth winding means operatingwithin the circumference of the drum to take up cloth passing from thestorage means over the said drum and through the opening in theperiphery of the drum, and impression means operating at one side of thesaid opening.

7 In a cloth printing machine, a roll supporting means, a frictiontensioning drum located above the said means and having an opening inits periphery adjacent its under side, a cloth winding means operatingwithin the circumference of the drum to take up cloth passing from thestorage means over the said drum and through the opening in theperiphery of the drum, and impression means operating at one side of thesaid opening and including a rotary platen over which the cloth ispassed prior to passing to the winding means.

8. In printing mechanism of the class described, a font, a frame mountedfor pivotal movement with relation to the font, aplaten, an inking rollmounted in the frame, an impression element supplied with ink by theinking roll and designed for coaction with the platen, and meansyieldably urging the frame in a direction to cause coaction of the saidimpression element with the said platen.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK R. EVANS. [1 s]

